One of the most important decisions you can make as a dental practitioner is choosing the right lab partner. According to studies, 33 percent of dentists regularly change labs, with inconsistency ranking as the most common reason. Practitioners rank quality and consistency highly when selecting a dental lab partner, as well as turnaround time, good communication, and a lab’s reputation.

If you’d like to stop shifting between labs, it’s imperative to evaluate your potential lab partner from the start. When choosing to partner with a dental laboratory, the following questions can serve as a helpful baseline:

1. Are the Dental Lab Materials ADA-Approved?

Having an American Dental Association (ADA) Seal of Approval gives users and consumers confidence that the products they use meet dental product standards, technical specifications, and safety standards, and that promotional claims are truthful.

Products with the ADA Seal of Approval undergo a rigorous process of testing and review to ensure all product ingredients, manufacturing practices, packaging, and labeling comply with quality standards. Products also undergo clinical studies that verify promotional claims, safety, and effectiveness.

Once they meet the necessary criteria, labs earn a stamp of approval for five years at a time. Updated versions of already approved products also need to undergo the process, as the seal indicates the updates or changes made also adhere to compliance standards.

While also important, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval does not require similarly extensive testing of products and manufacturing. This makes ADA approval a more trustworthy overall quality guarantee when it comes to in-depth standard specifications and criteria.

dental lab partner
A fully-equipped lab should use only ADA-approved materials.

2. Which Compliance or Regulatory Standards Do You Follow?

Dental laboratories in the United States typically follow a set of OSHA standards to ensure operational safety and high quality products and services. Some of the OSHA standards applicable to dental laboratories include:

  • Hazard Communication Standard (HCS) and Chemical Hygiene: These safety standards cover protocols for the management of physical hazards, including flammables, corrosives, and harmful dust, as well as health hazards such as skin irritation and lung damage.
  • Bloodborne Pathogen Standard (BPS): Exposure to bloodborne pathogens poses a risk of life-threatening illness. This safety standard helps protect lab employees from exposure to potentially infectious substances and objects.
  • Emergency Action Planning: Every facility must have a plan of action that identifies and covers a variety of potential emergencies, including chemical spills, medical emergencies, and fire.
  • Personal Protective Equipment (PPE): OSHA standards require workers to wear appropriate protective equipment as applicable. This can include eye and face, hand, respiratory, and head and foot protection, as well as electrical protective equipment.
  • Compressed Gases: Due to the pressure and gas content, compressed gas cylinders are highly hazardous and can pose a safety risk. Set strict procedures for the safe use of compressed gas cylinders, flow control valves, and attachments.
  • Now, add CDC-guided COVID-19 safety practices to the list. How are they handling materials and interaction in the lab? Is there social distancing? What is the policy on wearing masks? Is there an updated material handling guideline in place? Are they using COVID-19-effective cleaners such as HOCl?

3. Can I Visit Your Dental Lab?

A dental lab inspection allows prospective partners to make their decision based on first-person insight into the lab's operations, standard compliance, quality, and professionalism.

Your first impression of the should give you an indication of whether you feel the lab reflects your own standards. Would you feel comfortable sending your clients there if necessary?

Technician professionalism, attire, organization, and cleanliness are all important to take note of during the lab visit. Ensure that the facility has the production capability you need. Don’t forget to inquire about continued training for lab technicians and clients, as well as how the facility stays abreast of the latest technologies. Identifying these details will provide insight into the lab's technical and communication standards.

4. What Types of Equipment and Technology Do They Use in the Dental Lab?

dental lab technology
A dental lab partner should be invested in the most current and cutting edge technology.

It is important to know that your dental lab meets the demands of present and future technology. A fully-equipped lab gives you confidence that they can provide all the products needed by your practice.

This should include basic materials like ceramic, composites, and metal-supported ceramics, to analog tools and equipment including ceramic and press furnaces, casting machines, dental stone mixers, and denture base injectors. Do they have digital denture capabilities in-house or do they work with a reputable partner that enable them to have this technology?

A leading dental lab is one standing at the forefront of technological advancements in dentistry. Future-proof digital tools and equipment such as digital cameras, shade determination software, CAD and CAM software, milling and 3D printing machines are imperative for labs to stay on-trend.

5. How Will You Help Me Grow My Dental Practice?

Your lab partner can help you grow your business by offering not just skilled service but pricing and products that both expand your treatment options and reduce your costs. Those reduced costs can then be passed on to patients to encourage patient retention.

Find out if the lab you are considering offers incentive discounts, or any other beneficial programs. For example, Sterngold’s All-in-1 Implant Bundle is an implant value bundle that includes digital and analog restorative components with every implant, for a flat fee. This enables the dental lab to charge more reasonably for an implant-to-crown case and pass on the savings to your practice (check out their Lab Partnership Program).

Find out whether the dental lab has a relationship with a secondary source in case their primary facility cannot handle an assignment. Additionally, a dental lab committed to embracing technological advances will be able to offer increased—and most likely better—products and services.

Choosing Your Potential Partnership Well Is a Key Step

Partnering with a dental lab that has access to a reputable dental supplies and equipment manufacturer will help you keep up to speed with the latest dental technology.

For example, Sterngold Dental is one of the leading US-based manufacturers and distributors of restorative dentistry products. Sterngold carries US-made mini (small diameter) and conventional implants, attachments, consumables (SRS products), lab supplies and equipment, enabling practices and labs to quality and affordable treatment and services. You can be certain any lab that paired up with Sterngold is well worth your consideration.

To empower practices and technicians to increase patient satisfaction and treatment effectiveness, Sterngold also regularly offers continuing education courses on developments in restorative dentistry, presented by industry experts. Sterngold provides product lines, partnerships, and technical expertise as a holistic source for your dental business growth.

Reach out to Sterngold today to get insight on potential lab partners or to learn more about their for quality and affordable restorative products.